Plant growth can be stimulated by a symbiotic relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and bacteria within the rhizosphere region. These interactions are crucial for increasing soil fertility, which leads to increased productivity and sustainability, as well as food security considering a high level of malnutrition. Six rice varieties were grown with (M+) or without (M-) AMF inoculation in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. The soil physic-chemical properties were determined using standard procedures. Bacteria were isolated from the soil samples and the colony count was determined during the early and late cropping seasons of rice. Specific soil properties (phosphate, pH, organic matter) increased dramatically in the presence of AMF, which led to significant rice yield in both seasons. Bacterial species isolated included Lactobacillus spp., Klebsiella aerogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, and Micrococcus sp. Rice exudates increased the bacterial population in the early season, while AMF treatment increased the bacterial population in the late season and generally increased the bacterial species richness in both seasons. Although the actual mechanism that increased the bacterial species richness was not accessed, this study, however, shows that AMF-bacteria interaction increased and sustained soil fertility which consequently increased rice yield. A further study is necessary to determine the mechanism of the interaction observed between AMF inoculation and bacterial population.

This experiment was established to investigate the comparative effect of organic and inorganic soil amendments on the growth of cashew seedlings. Cashew nuts were planted in potting medium filled with well drained loamy soil and placed in a screenhouse. Cashew seeds with 8 to 9 g weight were selected and viability test was carried out using Tetrazolium test (TZ) viability test to ascertain how viable the seeds were before sown in a potting medium. After two weeks of germination, amended with the following treatments at various levels; NPK 15:15:15, composted cow dung, composted poultry dropping, sunshine organo-mineral, pig manure and control (No fertilizer). Complete randomized design (CRD) was used for the experimental layout with three replicates. Agronomic parameters in the study include; stem girth, plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and width. Cashew seedlings were more responsive to the animal sourced fertilizers (organic manure) compared to the inorganic (NPK 15, 15, 15) and control (No fertilizer). Composted poultry droppings fertilizer (PDF) showed higher significant differences on stem girth, plant height and cow dung gave significant difference on number of leaves from 2 to 8 weeks of growth after treatments application, sunshine organomineral and composted poultry droppings fertilizer gave higher significant differences at 8 weeks on leaf length and width respectively.

Erratic rainfall distribution pattern poses serious challenge to food production in the rainforest transitory zone of Nigeria. Low input technology through the adoption of drought tolerant varieties (NERICA) and the application of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) inoculum could be an alternative option for double cropping of upland rice. Field trials were conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in the early and late cropping season of 2012 in the transitory rainforest agro-ecology of Nigeria. The objective was to investigate the performance of some selected upland NERICA rice to the application of AMF inoculum. A 6 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted; six upland rice varieties selected with and without the application of AMF, laid out in split plot arrangement, with AMF in the main block, while variety was in the sub-plot. Each treatment was replicated three times. In both seasons, significant (P < 0.05) effect of AMF inoculation was observed on vegetative, reproductive growth and development parameters in the order + AMF > -AMF. In the early season there was no significant (P > 0.05) varietal variability on grain yield/ha. Conversely, in late season NERICA 4 recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher grain yield (1050kg/ha) as suggested in significantly (P < 0.05) higher panicle/m 2 (59.50). Performance of NERICA 4 was significantly increased by application of AMF inoculation in the late cropping season.

This study was conducted to investigate the factors determining the adoption of improved maize technologies among farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Primary data were collected with the use of a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and regression model were used for the analysis. The majority of maize producers in the study area were married, fairly educated and of middle age. The results further showed that the maize farmers were faced with a series of problems such as inadequate credit, bad road network, high-interest rate and lack of collateral. Meanwhile, the adoption of improved maize technology by the farmers was significantly influenced by the use of manure, appropriate planting techniques, use of herbicide, extension visit, and educational status of the farmers. To boost maize production in the study area, the study recommends the provision of single digit loan interest and with facilities, subsidies on farm inputs, construction of roads to production areas, provision of improved maize seeds while farmers should collect a certificate of occupancy on their farmlands to enhance the chances of increasing their access to credit facilities.

A trial was conducted in 2009 and 2010 at the upland rice field of the Teaching and Research Farms of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Latitude 7 0 2 N and 21 0 E) to investigate effects of cowpea residue incorporation and nitrogen application rates on the productivity of upland rice. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design in split split plot arrangement and replicated three times. The main plot was cowpea incorporation at two levels (Residue incorporated and no cowpea residue incorporated), sub plot was nitrogen application rates ( 0, 20, ) while in the sub sub plots were the rice varieties (NERICA 2 and ITA 150). Results obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant treatments means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) method. The yield and yield components of rice measured were significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by the incorporated cowpea residue while nitrogen rates had significant (P < 0.01) influence on yield of rice in 2009 and 2010. Rice varieties showed significant (P < 0.01) difference for all traits measured. It is concluded that the incorporation of grain cowpea with nitrogen fertilizer significantly (P <0.01) enhanced the performance of upland NERICA rice.